Chapter 50 - Massage (2)

[Translator - Peptobismol][Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 50 - Massage (2)

"Just go eat."

"I can't do that. How could I leave when the Mister who took care of me when I was sick is now in pain?"

"I'm telling you, it's fine. It'll go away if I just stay still. I don't need a massage."

"You have 15 massage coupons! They say if you save things for too long, they'll go to waste! I'm not leaving until you use one."

"...Alright, I’ll use one."

"Yay!"

Faced with Charlotte's insistence, I had no choice but to give in.

This wasn't how I planned to use the massage coupons…

But as Charlotte said, I had 15 of them, so it wouldn’t hurt to use one just to see.

With a resigned sigh, I sat on the bed and propped my leg up on the chair.

My calf muscles were twitching with an indescribable pain, as if they were being seared from the inside.

"Ouch, this is really bad. It looks so painful with such thin legs."

"…"

She wasn't wrong. These weren't the legs of someone who spends much time outdoors.

I had been pushing this frail body around nonstop recently, so it was no surprise it was starting to give out.

Charlotte knelt in front of me, rolled up my pant leg, and carefully placed her hands on my twitching calf muscle.

"Wait a second."

"It's okay, trust me."

"...Ugh."

Grip.

With that, Charlotte began to firmly knead my cramped muscle, quickly adjusting my foot to relieve the tension.

To my surprise, her hands were quite skilled.

Had she massaged someone else’s legs before?

Before I could dwell on a strange wave of jealousy, Charlotte explained.

"I’ve had cramps a lot too, so I know how to handle them. When you run right after waking up and keep running after meals, you become a cramp relief expert!"

"…"

Well, that’s a relief.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

As Charlotte's firm hands worked out the knot in my muscle, the pain gradually subsided, and for some reason, I almost regretted the relief.

"Little cramp, go away! Meow!"

"...What are you doing?"

"If I pretend the cramp is a little rat and a cat is here, it’ll scare it away!"

"…"

What a cute idea.

Watching Charlotte pretend to be a cat, rubbing my calf.

I decided she was more like a playful kitten than a wild one—perhaps a 'cuddle cat' would be more fitting.

"Thanks. I think the cramp has finally run away."

"Hehe. Now, how about lying down for a bit?"

"What?"

"It would be a waste to use a whole massage coupon just to rub your leg. Why don’t I give you a full massage?"

This girl really knew how to sell her services.

Most kids would issue a massage coupon to earn some pocket money, only to do a half-hearted job when it was time to deliver.

But Charlotte was offering a full-body massage with each coupon—talk about value for money.

"Alright, then. Try walking on my back. I think my back muscles are tense."

"W-walk on your back? Really?"

"Yeah."

"But what if I hurt you?"

"You won’t. Just get on."

How heavy did she think she was?

Or did I look that fragile?

After a moment of hesitation, Charlotte finally climbed onto the bed and carefully placed her feet on my back.

Wiggle.

Her little toes tickled my back as they moved.

"Keuk… Ugh…"

Press.

Charlotte balanced herself on my back, spreading her arms for balance. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ n0vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Every time she shifted her weight, my tense muscles were pressed and kneaded, forcing groans out of me.

Ahh, this was what I needed.

I could take care of my arms, but my back was always a problem.

Who knew I’d end up wanting to buy more of these massage coupons?

"Ah, does it hurt?"

"It’s fine. Just a sound of appreciation."

"Mister, you really sound like an old man…"

"…"

Her words suddenly made me feel the gap between us widen.

How old was I compared to her again?

Charlotte was 13, and I… or rather, Aslan, was 21, so that made an eight-year difference.

At that point, it was the same as an older brother and younger sister.

But I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to call me 'big brother'.

It would feel too awkward…

"Does it feel better now?"

"I’m satisfied. You can get off now."

"Hehe. Let’s finish up!"

"...?"

Plop.

Charlotte plopped down on my back, wrapping her arms around me in a hug.

"…What’s this?"

"The maids said hugs are the best kind of massage. A hug will make you feel better."

"Who told you that? I need their name."

"Why? Are you going to scold them? Then I’m not telling!"

"…"

Hug.

Charlotte's small arms squeezed me with surprising strength.

"Now that I’m doing this, I can hear your heartbeat. Can you feel mine?"

"I can’t."

"Do you want to put your ear to my chest?"

"...I’ll pass."

A hug, huh?

It had been a while since I’d been hugged.

Maybe this idea that hugs give you strength wasn’t entirely off.

After a long moment of squeezing and grunting, Charlotte finally let go.

"Massage over! How was it? I’d like a rating!"

"It was amateurish. You did well with the cramp, but you couldn’t find the tense spots on my back at all."

"Ehhh?!"

Her skills were just so-so.

I could’ve had a large cat walking on my back and gotten the same effect.

But it wasn’t about the skill.

"But I’ll give you 10 points for effort. You did make me feel better, so I’ll give you a 9 overall."

"Yay! So, you’ll ask for another massage, right?"

"There are still 14 coupons left. Even if it wasn’t great, I’d have used them all."

"Hehehe."

Charlotte giggled as she carefully stepped off my back and hopped down to the floor to find her shoes.

"I’ll keep today’s events a secret. Julia would tease you endlessly if she found out you were writhing in pain from a cramp."

With a mischievous smile, Charlotte looked up at me.

A secret, huh?

I didn’t really care if Julia found out I had a cramp, but…

"So now we each have a secret to share."

"Yeah, I guess we do. Thanks for keeping it."

"Hehe."

Seeing Charlotte so happy about it, I decided to keep the secret too.

Sharing secrets—it felt like we were becoming close friends.

I was satisfied that I had taken another step closer to Charlotte’s heart.

"How about we go buy that doll I promised you right now?"

"Okay! I’ll get ready right now… Huh?"

"What’s wrong?"

"There’s someone outside."

Whoosh.

Charlotte’s expression turned serious as she looked at the slightly ajar door.

She quickly ran over to check, but whoever had been there was already gone, and she returned to me with a small pout.

"Someone was eavesdropping! But I didn’t see who it was!"

It was probably just one of the maids.

I didn’t think much of it, but I had a feeling this would be the topic of their gossip for a while.

‘Why do they keep pairing me with these kids? It’s driving me nuts.’

It’s not like I wouldn’t want to marry a cute, sweet wife…

But I’m putting up with this because they’re Yuri’s friends and the main characters in this story.

I’m so tired of these forced romances.

.

.

.

“Uwaa…”

Julia pressed her hand over her mouth, peering through the gap in the door.

What was that?

That’s not a massage! Even an idiot would know that hugging isn’t a massage!

‘The maid taught her that? That’s a lie…!’

Julia remembered being with Charlotte when they both asked the maid for advice on how to give a good massage.

The maid never mentioned anything about hugging!

‘She’s so bold…’

Julia knew that Charlotte liked Aslan and was always close to him, but she had convinced herself it was all an act.

After all, Charlotte was cunning, with a dark side hidden behind her cheerful smile.

She might seem like a sweet, carefree girl, but deep down, she was full of resentment.

Julia thought Charlotte was just pretending to like Aslan, but…

‘Why is she really doing this?’

What Julia saw in that room didn’t seem like something someone who hated Aslan would do.

She covered her eyes, but her fingers betrayed her, letting her see everything through the cracks.

"Okay! I’ll get ready right now… Huh?"

"What’s wrong?"

"There’s someone outside."

"…!"

When Charlotte turned her head, her eyes locked onto Julia’s.

In a flash, Charlotte ran toward the door.

Julia tried to flee, but in her rush, she tripped over her own feet and fell.

"Ow…"

“…”

Charlotte opened the door to find Julia sprawled on the floor.

With an unreadable smile, Charlotte glanced back at the room, then leaned close to Julia and whispered softly.

"Don’t worry, Julia. I’ll be the Countess. You wanted to leave this place so badly, didn’t you?"

"Ah…"

"Shh. Quiet. He’ll hear us."

"…"

With a soft giggle, Charlotte’s expression turned serious as she walked back into the room.

"Someone was eavesdropping! But I didn’t see who it was!"

As the door slammed shut, Julia remained on the floor, frozen.

You wanted to leave this place so badly, she said.

It was true, but…

Julia bit her lip as her heart ached with a sharp, unfamiliar pain.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]